Ports swept by Storm in rainy doubleheader

STOCKTON – It was a long, wet and ultimately unsuccessful day at the ballpark for the Stockton Ports.

They had to finish one game from the night before and wait out the rain to play another in front of an Education Day crowd of 4,588 on Thursday at Stockton Ballpark. The Ports managed just six hits combined in their 2-1 and 6-0 losses to the Lake Elsinore Storm.

The first game was restarted in the third inning after being suspended due to inclement weather on Wednesday. That contest went the full nine innings, but the latter game was scheduled for seven.

Situations like Thursday’s can lead to issues for a team’s pitching staff, which is why there was a long delay between the two contests. Stockton starter Xavier Altamirano (1-3) went just three innings on Wednesday but could not comeback and pitch the next day. Neither team wanted to send their starters out for another short stint, which is why the starting time for Game No. 2 was pushed back from between 1:30-2 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. to let some bad weather move through the area.

“That’s the reason we did it,” Ports manager Webster Garrison said. “We couldn’t lose another starter like we did on (Wednesday). When we got here today it was all bullpen. We can’t lose our guy in Game 2 after an inning or two and have the bullpen have to finish it.”

The Game No. 2 starter, Rafael Kelly (0-1), made his first appearance for Stockton (15-26) and gave up four runs in five innings.

Thursday’s opener was delayed 30 minutes due to rain, and the Ports had a chance to pull it out. Stockton was trailing 1-0 when the game resumed, and Stockton relievers Jesus Zambrano and Jake Bray kept the game close. The Storm scored what would be the deciding run in the top of the ninth when Gabriel Arias hit a solo home run off of Bray.

Storm closer Evan Miller was brought in to close out the game in the bottom of the ninth, but the Ports’ offense finally perked up a bit.

Jameson Hannah singled to lead off the ninth for Stockton and Lazaro Armenteros was hit by a pitch. Hunter Hargrove flied out to right field, with both runners advancing a base.

Trace Loehr drove in Hannah with a ground out, but Miller was able to strike out Jeremy Eierman to earn his fifth save.

Most of the thousands of school children left after the first game, and had a good time despite less than ideal weather. Twenty-five students from Victory Elementary School walked the 1.6 miles from their campus to Stockton Ballpark to take in the game.

“This is a great thing for the students,” said Brett Hammer, a teacher at Victory Elementary. “We’ve come to (Education Day) for years now.”